On Thursday, 24 September 2009, the campaign appeared before a parliamentary committee to speak in support of draft legislation to govern New Zealand’s implementation of the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Mary Wareham, coordinator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition (ANZCMC), testified in support of the group’s submission on the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill.  In a statement to the hearing, Wareham described the proposed legislation as “appropriate” and urged that it be passed quickly so that New Zealand can ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions before the end of the year.

Members of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, which is chaired by National MP John Hayes, questioned Wareham on the ANZCMC’s suggested amendments for the legislation. The ANZCMC submission has identified a number of sections in the Bill, where further revision or clarification would be helpful.

The submission suggested measures to:

• Strengthen the Bill’s prohibition on the transfer of cluster munitions by specifically including “transit” of the weapon;
• Directly address divestment by prohibiting “investment” in the production of cluster munitions;
• Delete the Bill’s exemption permitting cluster munitions for training purposes;
• Include reference to the Convention’s positive obligations guiding relations with countries that have not joined.

New Zealand’s ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions is dependent upon the approval of the proposed implementing legislation.  After the Select Committee issues its report recommending amendments, if any, to the Bill, parliament will debate the Bill two more times.  Once the bill is passed and signed into law, New Zealand will be able to deposit its instrument of ratification for the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Nearly all of the ANZCMC ’s 23 non-governmental member organisations and networks endorsed the submission on the legislation.  For more information, please see:

• ANZCMC Submission on the Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill (9 Sept. 2009)
• Wareham’s Statement to the FADT Select Committee (24 Sept.)
• NZPA media article on the Select Committee hearing (24 Sept.)
• Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill (introduced 21 June)
• Hansard transcript of the first debate Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill (28 June)

Comments